NEW YORK, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- The daughter-in-law of convicted defrauder Bernard Madoff filed in New York to change her last name and that of her two children to "Morgan," records indicate.
Stephanie Madoff, married to Mark Madoff, the son of the Ponzi schemer sentenced to 150 years in prison for causing thousands of investors to lose billions of dollars, filed papers Wednesday for the name change in the Manhattan Supreme Court, the New York Post reported.
The petition said she wants "to avoid the "embarrassment, harassment and endangerment associated with the name," she said.
Mark Madoff submitted affidavits to support his wife's petition, saying, "I have no objection to the request and hereby give my consent to the change of name."
The petition says Stephanie Madoff was "notified of certain death and other threats made against the Madoff family. … Though the threats were deemed unfounded, your petitioner fears for her safety and the safety of her children."
Stephanie Madoff filed separate petitions for name changes on behalf of the couple's children, Audrey, 3, and Nicholas, 1.
Madoff family members, including Bernard's sons, have been sued civilly, but there have been no charges of any criminal wrongdoing.
